Propagating a Wandering Jew

by M.H. Dyer

Native to Mexico, wandering Jew (Tradescantia zebrina, also known as Zebrina pendula) grows quickly, displaying trailing stems and green and purple leaves often marked with silvery stripes. A warm-climate plant most often grown indoors, wandering Jew grows outdoors in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 9 through 11. Propagate wandering Jew by rooting cuttings in water or directly in soil.

Cutting

Wandering Jews root easily by taking cuttings, also known as slips, from a healthy, mature plant. Use clean, sharp scissors to cut the stem just below a node, which is a small, budlike protrusion where a bud or leaf is beginning to grow. This is the point where new roots develop during the propagation process. If you don't see a node, cut the stem just below the newest leaf. A cutting measuring 4 to 6 inches roots best.

Propagating in Water

Propagating plants in water is an old-fashioned method that works well for many plants, especially thick-stemmed plants such as wandering Jew. Fill a jar or drinking glass with lukewarm water, preferably a container with a wide top and a narrow bottom. Pull the leaves from the lower part of the stem, because leaves submerged in the water will rot the cutting. Place the cutting in the water and set the container on a sunny windowsill. Avoid intense light such as a south-facing window, as too much direct heat and light may prevent rooting. Replace water as needed to maintain the same water level. Be sure the roots are always submerged and that the leaves remain above the rim of the container. Roots usually appear in one to four weeks. When the roots are a few inches long, plant the cuttings in a pot filled with a lightweight commercial potting soil. You can root several cuttings and plant them in one pot to create the appearance of a full-sized plant.

Propagating in Soil

Propagating a wandering Jew directly in soil is slightly more involved than propagating a cutting in water. Fill a container with moistened potting mixture. Remove the leaves from the lower half of the stem and plant the cuttings in the potting mixture. Although it isn't required, dipping the ends of the cuttings in rooting hormone before planting will speed rooting. You can plant several cuttings in one pot as long as the leaves or stems don't overlap. Cover the pot with a plastic bag and secure the bag to the pot with a rubber band. Place the pot in bright, indirect light. No water is required, as the plastic will maintain a moist atmosphere for several weeks. Watch for new growth to appear in about a month, which indicates that the cuttings have rooted. At this point, you can safely remove the plastic.

After Rooting

Wandering Jew thrives in moderate to bright light and room temperatures between 55 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Water the plant deeply when the top of the soil feels dry. Let the pot drain thoroughly after watering, and never let the pot stand in water, as the plant is likely to rot in soggy soil. Wandering Jew benefits from regular fertilization. Feed the newly rooted plant every month, using a water-soluble fertilizer mixed at a rate of 1/2 teaspoon in 1 gallon of water. When the plant is well established and growing, increase the frequency of feeding to every other week during spring and summer, remaining at once per month during fall and winter.

About the Author

M.H. Dyer began her writing career as a staff writer at a community newspaper and is now a full-time commercial writer. She writes about a variety of topics, with a focus on sustainable, pesticide- and herbicide-free gardening. She is an Oregon State University Master Gardener and Master Naturalist and holds a Master of Fine Arts in creative nonfiction writing.

Have Feedback?

Thank you for providing feedback to our Editorial staff on this article. Please fill in the following information so we can alert the Home Guides editorial team about a factual or typographical error in this story. All Fields are required.